Things to do in Yufu

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Yufu
Yufu featuring landscape views and mountains as well as a small group of people
Yufu
Yufu
Yufu

Yufu Attractions

Discover what makes Yufu tick with the very best tours & day trips. Scroll through our {21 fun activities in Yufu fun activities in Yufu}, and book with confidence knowing that we offer free cancellation and no added fees.

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Yufu must see attractions

1. Kinrin Lake

When mist creates a cloud over the surface of the warm water, Kinrin Lake seems like a portal to another world, suffused with a potent magic. Fed by a volcanic spring at its base and other springs whose cooler streams pour in, the lake stays warm year round with the same geothermal energy that feeds the onsen baths throughout Yufuin. Knowing how it works doesn’t make it any less magical in early morning, when the contrast between hot water and cold air creates the lake’s signature fog. Start the day here to be full of the relaxing energy that makes Yufuin such a popular destination.
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Kinrin Lake

2. Mount Yufu

Yufuin’s natural protector, Mount Yufu, is one of the town’s most distinctive sights with its camel-backed peak. The perfect backdrop for camera shots of Yufuin’s main street, Mount Yufu is also a great place for hiking. The walk is rather long, at 5 miles (8 kilometers), taking about 4 or 5 hours round-trip. Do the moderate hike relatively easily with a basic level of fitness and strong motivation.
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Mount Yufu

3. Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

Everything in the Yufuin Stained Glass Museum, from the bricks to the furniture, was imported from Europe. Japan’s first full-scale stained-glass museum is a celebration both of this distinctly European art form and of European culture more generally, perfect for a town modeled on the continent’s spa towns. Visit for the art and the pleasing cultural dissonance.
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Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

4. Showa Retro Park

Although the Showa Retro Park is a blast from the past, in many ways it celebrates change. It is seemingly dedicated to the entire Showa Period, during the reign of Emperor Hirohito, from 1926 to 1989. In particular it celebrates the Showa 30s (1955-1965), an era of radical shifts in Japanese history.
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Showa Retro Park

5. Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

The founder of Yufuin Retro Motor Museum, a town local, has amassed quite an impressive collection of motor vehicles. With a collection of 70 cars, 30 motorcycles, tricycles, small airplanes and retro buses, he is one of the region’s biggest amateurs and opened the museum in 1988. Get a sense both of his own idiosyncratic tastes and the history of Japan’s mechanized transport at a museum right off Yufuin’s main street.
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Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

6. Bussanji Temple

With its heavy thatched roof, Bussanji Temple announces its heritage at first glance. Though the history is hazy, legend says that a monk founded the shrine more than a thousand years ago after receiving an oracle at Kirishima Shrine, at the southern end of the island. He carved a statue of Kannon bodhisattva and placed it on Mount Yufu, where a monastery grew up around it. There it remained until the late 16th century, when an earthquake brought the statue down to the valley and the people of Yufuin built a temple where it fell. Sense the deep spirituality of the space, which has been a center of religious life in the village for a very long time.
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Bussanji Temple

What to do in Yufu

Free Things to Do in Yufu

Leave your wallet in the hotel. It's easy to occupy yourself in Yufu without paying a cent.

Yufu River Valley - Kick back and let the natural beauty here quieten your mind.

Things to Do in Yufu with Kids

Yufu boasts plenty of close by fun experiences for you and the kids. Our family friendly experiences will keep everyone happy for hours.

 

Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in Yufu? Search event tickets to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend!

 

 

Discover the most popular places to visit in Yufu

Kinrin Lake

Kinrin Lake

4/5(22 reviews)

The picturesque emblem of Yufuin, this geothermal lake has a remarkable beauty that is best appreciated when the air is chilly.

Kinrin Lake
Mount Yufu

Mount Yufu

4.5/5(11 reviews)

A long hike up the volcano pays off, both from the beauty of the walk and the stunning sea and valley views from the peak.

Mount Yufu
Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

5/5(1 review)

Soft light streaming through colored windows suggests the north of England, but this museum is in the thoroughly Japanese neighborhood of Yufuin.

Yufuin Stained Glass Museum
Showa Retro Park

Showa Retro Park

Japan of the 1950s is reproduced in remarkable detail in a museum celebrating the daily life of a recently passed era.

Showa Retro Park
Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

Examples of some of the world’s best-known sports cars appear alongside motorcycles, a bus and even a few small planes in this private collection.

Yufuin Retro Motor Museum
Bussanji Temple

Bussanji Temple

Set in a shaded forest, this 16th-century temple with a long history offers relaxation and meditation to visitors of any faith.

Bussanji Temple
Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum

Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum

Best known for his covers of the Saturday Evening Post, a great American illustrator is the subject of this small but enthusiastic collection in Japan.

Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum
Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum

Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum

Mind-bending optical illusions offer opportunities for photos, special events and good fun on rainy days right off Yufuin’s main tourist street.

Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum
Sueda Art Gallery

Sueda Art Gallery

Works of two of Japan’s best-known modernist sculptors and artists fill this private museum, making it feel a bit like entering their home, full of an easy intimacy.

Sueda Art Gallery

Discover the most popular landmarks and neighborhoods in Yufu

Yufuin Onsen showing a river or creek, a small town or village and a bridge

Yufuin Onsen

4.5/5(42 area reviews)

Experience the very relaxing Japanese custom of communal bathing in a hot spring onsen at the foot of Mount Yufu.

Yufuin Onsen
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Popular day trips from Yufu

Beppu showing night scenes

Beppu

Yufuin Onsen showing a river or creek, a small town or village and a bridge

Oita

Photo by Shoko Yoshimura

Taketa

Photo by Jsama

Kokonoe

Yufuin

Yufuin

Photo by Satoru Morimoto

Kusu

Frequently asked questions

Is Yufu worth visiting?
One of the most common things to do in Yufu is explore Kijima Kogen Park. Tick this leading attraction off your list, then experience more of the area's nature and views.
How do I spend a day in Yufu?
Kijima Kogen Park and Takegawara Onsen are two awesome places to start your sightseeing adventures. Be sure to explore the retail and dining options in Yufu while you're here too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Yufu?
The top tourist attraction in Yufu is Kijima Kogen Park, so make sure to add it to your sightseeing agenda.
Is three days enough to stay in Yufu?
Three days will give you time to check out many city sights, such as Kijima Kogen Park, Yunohira Hot Spring and Kagurame Lake. The average stay in Yufu is two days. If you feel the urge to extend your escape, Beppu isn't far away.
What are some activities to do in Yufu with kids?
Whether you're vacationing with young explorers or playful teenagers, a fun-filled itinerary is the key to a stress-free getaway. Browse our ideas for what to do in Yufu with kids.

What to do in Yufu for adults?
There are lots of things to do in Yufu, with activities for adults of all ages. Finish your day off at Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum.
Are there free things to do in Yufu?
From checking out parks to strolling around exciting neighborhoods, it's simple to find free things to do in Yufu. If you're stuck for ideas, get some recommendations from a local tour guide. Kagurame Lake is a great spot for anyone wishing to save on their traveling adventures.